• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1219-1224
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• 2019

Objective: To investigate the possibility of hepatotoxicity by supplemental foods or folk herbs such as Salvia Plebeia R. Br. Methods: A hospitalized male patient with alcoholic liver disease and electrolyte imbalance had recovered, and then followed by rapid hepatic serum enzymes after taking S. Plebeia. This study monitored the clinical outcome and biochemical parameters. Result: A 58-year male had drunk frequently, which led to alcoholic steatohepatitis and hospitalization. Two weeks after his discharge from hospital, he felt nausea, dizziness, and mild difficulties in speech and walking, resulting in re-hospitalization at the Korean Medical Hospital. The symptoms disappeared on correction of the electrolyte imbalance suspected to have been caused by severe sweating while working in the outdoors, and the patient was discharged. During treatment and monitoring of his health as an outpatient, the serum hepatic enzyme rapidly elevated approximately 10-fold in hepatic enzymes; the enzyme levels fluctuated according to whether or not he was taking the boiled water of S. Plebeia. The RUCAM score was 12, which met the criteria for toxic hepatitis by S. Plebeia. His general condition and abnormal hepatic enzymes recovered with cessation of S. Plebeia and administration of Chungganplus syrup (CGX). Conclusion: This study reports the hepatotoxic risk of Salvia Plebeia, which is commonly used as a folk remedy in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.167-167
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• 2002

Methylmercury (MeHg), one of the heavy metal compound, can cause severe damage to the central nervous system in humans. Many reports have contributed MeHg poisoning to contaminated foods and release into the environment. Despite many studies on the pathogenesis of MeHg-induced central neuropathy, no useful mechanism of toxicity has been established. To find genes differentially expressed by MeHg in neuronal cell, we peformed forward and reverse suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) method on mRNA derived from neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y treated with solvent (DMSO) and 6.25 uM (IC$\sub$50/) MeHg. Differentially expressed CDNA clones were sequenced and the mRNAs were re-examined on Northern blots. These sequences were identified by BLAST homology search to known genes or expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Analysis of these sequences has provided an insight into the biological effects of MeHg in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease and a possibility to develop more efficient and exact monitoring system of heavy metals as common environmental pollutants.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.177-177
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• 2003

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a well-known neurotoxicant that causes severe damage to the central nervous system in humans. Many reports have shown that MeHg is poisonous to human body through contaminated foods and has released into the environment. Despite many studies on the pathogenesis of MeHg-induced central neuropathy, no useful mechanism of toxicity has been established so far. In this study, suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) was performed to identify differentially expressed genes on human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y treated with DMSO and MeHg (6.25 uM) for 6 hr. Differentially expressed cDNA clones were sequenced and were screened by dot blot to eliminate false positive clones. 13 of 35 screened genes were confirmed using real time RT-PCR. These genes include EB1,90-kDa heat-shock protein, chromosome condensation-related SMC-associated protein and brain peptide Al, etc. Analysis of these genes may provide an insight into the neurotoxic effects of MeHg in human neuronal cells and a possibility to develop more efficient and exact monitoring system of heavy metals as ubiquitous environmental pollutants.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2004

Since dioxins became a serious concern in Korea, a significant number of investigations have been conducted to address diverse issues related to dioxins. However, the results have not been organized for ready access and use. The principal purposes of the work were to ⅰ) provide an archive of dioxin researches in Korea and ⅱ) give an overview of dioxin contamination. The focus of this work was placed on the contamination levels and characteristics concerning the waste incinerators emissions, environmental media, and biological samples(fishes/shellfishes, foods, and human body). Principal component analysis was conducted to identify common and/or unique features and the important variables associated with the congener patterns. From a comprehensive search of academic journals, research and monitoring project reports, dissertations, and periodicals of other forms, a total of 115 counts were found that met the purposes of this study. The contamination levels of various samples were summarized and compared to those reported in foreign literatures. The congener patterns varied largely with environmental media and distinguished particularly by OCDD, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF, and OCDF for the samples within the same media. The proximity to emission sources differentiated the congener patterns in air and soil samples by the fraction of OCDD.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.341-346
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• 2016

Phagocytosis is a primary and an essential step of host defense, and is triggered by the interaction of particles with specific receptor of macrophages. In this study, we investigated the effect of extracts of Rudbeckia laciniata (RLE) on the phagocytic activity of macrophage, by monitoring the phagocytosis-associated signal transduction. RLE markedly increased phagocytosis of serum-opsonized zymosan particles (SOZ), while phagocytosis of IgG-opsonized zymosan particles (IOZ) or none-opsonized zymosan particles (NOZ) remained unaffected. However, RLE did not affect the binding of opsonized zymosan particles (OZ) with the cell surface of macrophage. This suggests that RLE may regulate SOZ-induced intracellular signaling during phagocytosis of macrophage. To confirm this hypothesis, we investigated whether RLE was involved in the RhoA-mediated signal transduction during phagocytosis of SOZ. Inhibitors of the RhoA-mediated signaling pathway, such as Y-27632 (for ROCK), ML-7 (for MLCK), and Tat-C3 (for RhoA), totally blocked phagocytosis of SOZ enhanced by RLE, as well as phagocytosis of SOZ. Additionally, RhoA activity was markedly increased when cells were treated with RLE, suggesting that RLE could increase the phagocytic activity of macrophage via RhoA-ROCK/MLCK signal pathway. Thus, RLE may be used to develop functional foods for immunity.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2013

Food hygiene practices must be maintained from farm to table in order to prevent contamination by microorganisms. This study was conducted to investigate consumer hygiene practices related to the refrigerator storage of meat, including a microbial analysis, monitoring of refrigerator temperatures and consumer surveys of female homeowners in the capital area of Korea. Home refrigerator temperatures were maintained above $5^{\circ}C$ in 26 (19.7%) of the 132 houses investigated. The percentage of the refrigerators with a total microbial count over $10^2\;CFU/100\;cm^2$ was 14.4%. No E. coli, Salmonella spp. or Listeria monocytogenes microbes were detected. However, Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 14 houses (10.6%). The only statistically significant difference in hygiene practices between the non-contamination group and contamination group was in the last time of refrigerator cleaning (p<0.01), as determined by the consumer survey. To improve food hygiene when using a refrigerator, raw materials must be packaged, meat should be stored only on a designated shelf, and cooked foods must be contained to prevent cross-contamination. The refrigerator should be cleaned regularly, at least once a month, and refrigerator thermometers should be monitored below $5^{\circ}C$ in order to keep food safe.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.597-605
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• 2004

The purpose of the study was to investigate relationships among food safety training, knowledge, and practices of school food service employees. A questionnaire that identified employees' food safety training experience, knowledge, and practices was developed based on a review of literature. A total of 341 Korean school food service employees participated in the survey; the final usable responses were 293 (a response rate: 86%). Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS for Windows (version 10). Most of the respondents (> 86%) took training sessions on 'proper hand washing' and 'proper food storage temperatures', whereas less than 60% had training on 'monitoring procedures and corrective actions at critical control points'. The mean score of their food safety knowledge was 8.02 out of 11. The majority of the employees knew correctly 'potentially hazardous foods (93.2%)' and 'diseases and symptoms with which they are excluded from working (87.0%)'; less than 50% chose a correct answer for 'sanitizing food contact surfaces.' A chi-square analysis revealed that the employees' actual knowledge did not differ significantly by whether they had food safety training (at the level of a =0.01), except one topic 'diseases and symptoms with which they are excluded from working.' Their self-reported practice scores were rated as 2.98 - 3.39 based on a 5-point Likert-type scale (1-not at all, 5-always). Employees' food safety training should be conducted continuously and repetitively to improve the effectiveness of the training.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.75-85
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• 1990

The dose calculations were carried out using environmental montoring data around Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Center(KfK). Ingestion of plant foods was the most important pathway, and the K-40 and Pb-210 natural radioisotopes in food were the most effective radiation source to man. The dose received from artificial nuclides were mostly emitted by gamma irradiation of Cs-134 and Cs-137 deposited on the ground. The effective dose equivalent in the KfK environment was far less than the dose equivalent limit recommended by ICRP.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2006

Methylmercury (MeHg), one of the heavy metal compounds, can cause severe damage to the central nervous system in humans. Many reports have shown that MeHg is poisonous to human body through contaminated foods and has released into the environment. Despite many studies on the pathogenesis of MeHg-induced central neuropathy, no useful mechanism of toxicity has been established so far. This study, using of suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) method, was peformed to identify differentially expressed genes by MeHg in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line. We prepared to total RNA from SH-SY5Y cells treated with solvent (DMSO) and $6.25\;{\mu}M\;(IC_{50})$ MeHg and performed forward and reverse SSH. Differentially expressed cDNA clones were screened by dot blot, sequenced and confirmed that individual clones indeed represent differentially expressed genes with real time RT-PCR. These sequences were identified by BLAST homology search to known genes or expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Analysis of these sequences may provide an insight into the biological effects of MeHg in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease and a possibility to develop more efficient and exact monitoring system of heavy metals as ubiquitous environmental pollutants.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.82-90
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• 2018

The term "hangover" refers to symptoms such as headache, heartburn, nausea, and dizziness caused by acetaldehyde created through alcohol decomposition in the body after alcohol intake. Many scientists have conducted research on diverse drugs, foods, and medicinal herbs aimed at eliminating hangovers. However, research on metabolism to objectively verify or measure their effects on hangover symptoms has been lacking. Accordingly, in this study, deep sea water minerals were administered orally at varying concentrations to rats that consumed alcohol, and changes in the levels of amino acids in their bodies were measured using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to gauge the minerals' effects on hangover symptoms. Thus far, biochemical research on hangover cures has been confined to basic research measuring changes in the levels of alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase as well as in the concentrations of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and acetate using spectroscopes such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits or gas chromatography-mass spectrometers. In comparison, this study presents pharmacokinetic research that simultaneously tracked biomaterials including amino acids and organic acids, metabolites associated with hangover, to clarify hangover mechanisms more specifically. In addition, this study examined hangover mechanisms without an external supply of tracked materials not overlapping with alcohol metabolism-related materials, such as external amino acids and sugars.